JD 4720 and 10ft bush hog

[trook]

What are your thoughts about using a pull behind 10ft bush hog behind a JD 4720? I know the 4720 is considered a compact tractor, but this would be using a pull behind cutter with 66/56hp at the pto. Fairly level conditions with a FEL and 4WD.

 

[AKfish]

What are your thoughts about using a pull behind 10ft bush hog behind a JD 4720? I know the 4720 is considered a compact tractor, but this would be using a pull behind cutter with 66/56hp at the pto. Fairly level conditions with a FEL and 4WD.

It'll turn it... but, if you're into some heavy, tall stuff or brush 2"-3" you might not wanna make a habit of it! You'll be dropping rpm's faster than those shoppers after Thanksgiving crashing the doors into Walmart's!

AKfish

 

[garf658]

I have a 10' semi mount Schulte behind my L5740 (50pto hp). In heavy grass I go pretty slow, but it sure works nice for maintaining trails through the pasture with one pass. Even with the slower speed I still cut more than with the HD7' 3ph model.

 

[jenkinsph]

While you can do it I would much prefer to use an 8' cutter with less strain on the tractor.

 

[trook]

If 56 or 58 hp at the PTO is not sufficient, how much HP do you recommend to be more comfortable?

 

[TripleR]

If you don't already have the cutter, look at one of these, I seem to remember a member who used one on a compact tractor as that is what they are designed for.

RC2512 Rotary Cutters | Land Pride

We use a Woods DS1260 and while our L5740 will pull it, it is not something I would do regularly.

Land Pride's site allows you to select cutters suitable to certain Kubota models or HP, so you might find a ten foot there.

 

[jenkinsph]

If 56 or 58 hp at the PTO is not sufficient, how much HP do you recommend to be more comfortable?

I just think a 10ft cutter is alot of cutter to pull behind a 4720 in your locale. I feel the electro hydraulic clutch engages very fast at least mine does on the 4520 so it has to work hard to get those two blade spindles turning. I would also add that mowing something like Bahia grass will slow you to a crawl. I suspect you could save some money by buying an 8' cutter and pull it a little faster than you could pull a 10' cutter. End result I think you could cut about the same acres/hr with either one but the strain of startup and overall weight would be less with the 8' cutter. Also less likely to get stuck in a wet spot.

 

[ssls6]

You have enough engine but I don't think you have enough tractor. I used a mx8 for a couple of years behind a 4700. I had enough engine as well but the mower would cause the tractor to plow when I turned and the lift was almost at capacity. I ended up selling the mx8 and settled on a 6' Bush hog 186 (I think 186, been years). A 10' hog requires 60 pto hp and a big body tractor.